Farleigh Field: WWII Novel

A review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book “In Farleigh Field” by Rhys Bowen

I purchased this book from Amazon in the Kindle edition just a few days ago and enjoyed reading it. I was looking for something entertaining to read. And the description on Amazon seemed to fit the bill for my needs. I love stories about World War II and especially if it involves espionage.

I found this book to be a short fast read (398 pages) and it was better than I expected. I am usually very cautious to read a book by a British author because of the differences in idioms and customs. After reading the book, I determined that the author was not British but rather an ex-pat from New Zealand living now in California. I could tell because I was not caught up in all the British jargon which I don’t oppose but it makes reading by an ordinary “Yank” more of a struggle.

The story line was very plausible and draws the reader in to the characters and they are well developed and not all confusing as stories with several characters can be. The author did place a list of the characters and it occupied a couple of pages at the beginning. At first glance I was expecting to be confused with the number of characters but this was not the case. The characters are introduced in a logical and memory retentive format that truly made the list unnecessary, at least for me.

The plot is not at all complicated and the reader will be happy to be caught up in the story of espionage and treason and will be surprised at who the traitors turn out to be.

The setting is a fictitious estate owned by an aristocrat who is friendly with Winston Churchill and the setting is reminiscent of Downtown Abbey minus the luxury and splendor as, England is in the throes of World War II and the estate is also billeted by an Army unit as part of the aristocracies contribution to the war effort.

There are two heroes and one heroine and there is plenty of sexual tension but not prurient in nature and demonstrative of love and unrequited love. There is also great interactions with the Earl’s several daughters and there involvement in the struggles of Britain during 1941, before America enters into the War effort.

I found the book and the setting fascinating and the historical references not too overwhelming but still informative.

I gave this book a rating of four and a half stars but rounded it up to five because of the limitations of a five star rating system. I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to my “reading” friends who love stories of intrigue and mystery and a touch of historical reference.

In Farleigh Field: a story of war, love, mystery, and purpose. In 1941, World War II waged fiercely: many battles were fought, many lives were lost. Yet in the midst of it, people continued to live somewhat ordinary lives, seeking their place in a world fraught with danger, fear, and death.
Rhys Bowen paints a rich picture of life during the war: a crippled man serving as an at-home spy, a courageous woman decoding at Bletchley, an injured fighter pilot, an English girl caught in the French resistance, and a couple of young kids searching for answers to a mysterious pilot found dead in Farleigh Field. A little mystery, a little romance, and a little danger make for an exciting story no matter who you are, and Rhys Bowen is excellent at painting descriptions rich enough to make you feel as if you can see the war-torn England and France with your own eyes. The sorrow and hardship brought on by the war can be clearly seen and felt—there was no romanticism of the fight besides that which many naïve young girls and boys did feel, before they saw the reality first hand. The story was full of depth, intrigue, and rich character development.
The book wasn’t perfect for every audience: a bit of suggestive language and talk of sex might offend some, and a touch of English cursing was found throughout, which may make it better for older audiences, though probably older high schoolers would be able to read it easily. For many like myself, these additions may take away from the charm of such a story, but for others this may provide only an added layer of interest. It certainly embraces the less magical and elegant picture of life, as well as the zeitgeist in which it was written.
Bowen gives more strength to her exciting story by her clear understanding of historical facts and good peppering of British slang. One could almost feel as if they were truly visiting Britain; seeing things through the eyes of one loyal to England and desperate to defeat Germany. Yet unlike what may be expected, little was said about Hitler and the deportation of the Jews. For this story, the important thing was the ways that ordinary people can help change the war from their little place in the countryside of England.
At the beginning of the book, a list of main characters was provided, and at the beginning of each chapter a date and location to set the scene. The author, a well-known mystery writer born and raised in England, provided a strong setting and a smooth-flowing story. For those who enjoyed Downton Abbey or Foyle’s War, this should be right up their alley. The adventure to discover a German spy among family and friends was a unique and fascinating one, with just the perfect amount of suspense to make one want to keep reading.
In addition to the rich storyline, the character development was wonderful. Each was imbued with realistic weaknesses, strengths, sins, victories, sorrows, and joys to captivate the heart and imagination of any reader. The love triangle among the beautiful Pamela, the intelligent Ben, and the wild Jeremy was nothing unusual, but captivating and realistic. The skirmishes of young Diana, desperate for adventure, and little Phoebe, struggling to grow up in a world rocked by sorrow and death, moved the heart and brought a taste of real life: reminding a girl of what she might feel if she had lived during such a time. The adventures of young Phoebe and Alfie, seeking to discover the identity of the German spy in their midst, added a fresh look at how even children can impact their world and do something important, if they will look beyond themselves.
Another theme of interest was that of class: Diana longs to be seen as someone other than the earl’s daughter, Phoebe strives to remain a strong example to those lower in her community, and Lord Westerham struggles to allow soldiers to inhabit most of his large home. The message of equality is brushed upon, as the entire meaning of the world and class shifts with the war. Above all, loyalty to one’s country and friends remains a thread tying the story together with everyday lessons for us.
In Farleigh Field is a rich, fascinating look at English life during the war; at loyalty; at true love; at the mix of sorrow and hope. Those who read this book should come expecting adventure, mystery, history, and a little love thrown in the mix.

This is a great book it will have you hooked from the start.
If you’ve never read this author before give her books a try you won’t be disappointed.

Mich erinnert das Buch an Downton Abbey, nur in irgendwie fröhlicher =). Nette, glaubwürdige Charaktere mit realistischen Macken, sehr liebenswerte Konstellationen, hochspannender Plot, viel Humor, im Prinzip alles, was man sich wünscht.